A Friend Indeed...

I climbed in my truck this morning to the sound of Toby Keith singing "Cryin For Me" a tribute song to his friend Wyman Tisdale, an incredibly gifted athlete but also a brilliant musician who passed a few years back.  Kind of ironic after what I had read about Toby playing Merle's last show!  But things like that happen.

Still it got me to thinking again about friendship how there is this amazing linkage between the tempests of trials and travail and the sanctuary of loving relationships.  If one looks back, for probably every trial you endured you could see a face (or more) that helped you bridge the heartache and uncertainty of that moment. And the greatest gift is that the relationship took on a different complexion as it was strengthen from the waging of the circumstance.

We read that in God we have a friend that sticks with  us closer than a brother. So friendship is family. And we also read that no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his brother. So friendship is sacrifice. In that light, the phrase "a friend in need is a friend indeed" makes much more sense.

Today is a good day for me, and anyone else who understands the point, to say thank you to all the friends who helped shine on me through the dark spaces and walked with me through the more treacherous places along these many journeys.

May I be a friend to you as you have been to me.

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